Tech Drive Troubles

[human]

So I got hold of an exceedingly clean Tech Drive unit from a Sentria and installed it in my G5 'FrankenKirby'. Everything went together just fine but as soon as I turned it on, it broke the drive belt. Looking for a replacement, I see that the Sentria takes a diffferent belt (554105) than the G5 (554189). Will the Sentria belt work in this application or should I order the earlier style belt and swap the drive gear from the old tech drive onto the newer one?

 

[human]

I went ahead and swapped the white gear from the G5's original transmission over onto the Sentria transmission, so now I just need to get a new 554189 belt. That's not a part I can pick up at Wally World, unfortunately, so it's off to eBay to order one--or maybe a 5-pack.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

When installing make sure its in neutral and im not sure what its called linkage where motor meets transmission under handle near power switch. Make sure the connection is good. Sorry im vague on describing in my head im thinking flywheel from motor mounting to transmission fly wheel. Its basically same concept. Its hard to explain but if you understand transmission flywheel it should make sense. If not then well good luck.
Les

 

[human]

I removed the old Tech Drive and installed the new one (and now have removed it again) using the procedure outlined in the link below. I bookmarked it a few years ago when I replaced the bracket cam assembly.

http://www.goodvac.com/kb_results.asp?ID=16

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

The cam bracket assembly is what I was thinking of. I could not think of the name.
Les

 

[human]

Tech Drive won't disengage...

With further research, I have found that both of the plastic drive gears on the Tech Drive must be the same color, so I swapped the G5's original white gear over to the Sentria Tech Drive to keep the matching gear set. The replacement drive belts came the other day and I've got everything back together and the new Tech Drive works a treat. The only thing is it won't disengage, even with the N/D pedal in the 'N' position. I'm using the original G5 pedal with a practically new bracket cam assembly. Is there an adjustment on the Tech Drive that will throw it out a little further in order to more fully disengage or do I need to get a Sentria pedal to go with the Tech Drive? I had always thought the only real difference between the various models' pedals was the color of the plastic, but perhaps I'm wrong.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

human

Edgar,

They actually changed the Tech Drive belt during production of the Ultimate G Diamond Edition, in July 2005 (at serial number x0507xxxxx).

~Ben

 

[human]

Thanks, I'm aware of that change. The newer Tech Drives have gray plastic gears instead of the white ones used on the G4 through Ultimate G. The gear on the Tech Drive is a slightly larger diameter than the earlier white one and has slightly wider spaced teeth. It takes belt #554105. Earlier Tech Drives with white gears or G3 Tech Drives with black gears take belt #554189. I've swapped the white gear over to the new Tech Drive in place of its gray gear and am using a #554189 belt, which is correct for those gears. That part of the Tech Drive is working just fine. What's not working fine is the N/D pedal, which is the original one for the G5. The question I'm trying to answer is whether I need to get a Sentria or later N/D pedal to work with this Tech Drive. I'm sensing the answer might be yes but does anyone know for sure?

 

[human]

I've now installed an N/D pedal for a Sentria onto the Sentria Tech Drive. Didn't make a bit of difference. The thing is still stuck in "D" mode. I'm not really sure where to go with it from here but I'm through spending money on it.

 

[human]

After staring at the G5 in disgust for the past four days, I pulled the Sentria Tech Drive out and put the original back in, except I used the Sentria foot pedal since it's in much better shape. It still sounds like an old Huffy bicycle with playing cards stuck in the front spokes when I push it around in neutral, but at least it actually goes into neutral. I'd still love to know if there's a way to adjust the Sentria's Tech Drive so that it will actually go into neutral as it's supposed to.

 

[cuffs054]

Human, I'm following this closely. My G5 Ultimate is doing exactly the same thing. Don't give up yet!

 

[human]

It looks to me as if the pedal (G5 or Sentria pedal, doesn't matter) isn't throwing the gear out far enough to fully disengage in the neutral position. there has to be a way to adjust that.

One thing's for sure; I'm getting real good at tearing the machine down and putting it back together.